ROCKFORD - The first postseason game often begins sluggishly, as was the case for the Dakota girls.

But one of the Indians' seniors gave them just the boost they needed in a 52-27 semifinal victory Wednesday over South Beloit at the 1A Christian Life Regional.

Ashlee Lampe, who has missed a lot of the season because of an injury, scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds in helping Dakota (24-6) pull away and advance to Friday's regional final against Christian Life.

"I'm just happy for Ashlee," Dakota coach Kevin Cline said. "I'm glad that a senior that's worked hard for four years got to come back 100 percent and have a great game like in the postseason, and she can carry that with her."

The Indians took a 12-point lead into halftime despite shooting 27 percent from the floor in the first half. They missed their first four shots of the second half, allowing the Sobos (5-17) to pull back within seven. But then Lampe got Dakota going, scoring six of her team's points in a row, and the Indians finished the third quarter having made 8 of 12 shots to open up a 20-point advantage.

"Usually when somebody knocks them down, it just keeps going and everybody knocks them down," Lampe said.

Lampe also scored Dakota's eight points in an 8-0 run to open the fourth as the Indians put the rough start and game even further out of reach for South Beloit, which managed to win a regional quarterfinal game despite having only six players on the roster.

"Like I told the girls, your first game of the postseason is always the hardest," Cline said. "You just gotta shake things off, especially when you're playing a team that's had a chance to get out here and get used to things. We picked it up when we needed to."

Durand at Christian Life

Linzy Keller was a big thorn side in Durand's side for the second straight postseason. The junior scored a game-high 29 points to lift the host Eagles to a 58-47 victory.

"She killed us last year in the (regional) championship game," Durand coach Tim Hardy said. "She has such a quick release and she's just so smart with it. She's got that great hesitation move and she gets to the basket."

Keller accounted for 10 of her team's 19 fourth-quarter points as Christian Life was able to finally put away a game it led for the entirety. The Eagles made eight of their first 12 shots in the game to jump out to an 18-7 lead early in the second quarter before the Bulldogs (20-8) fought their way back.

Durand had multiple chances to overtake Christian Life - the Bulldogs were within a point on three occasions - but turnovers prevented that from happening.

Page 2 of 2 - Durand had 12 turnovers in the second half, seven of which came in the final quarter.

Bulldogs senior Cassidy Derus finished her high school career with a team-high 16 points in the loss.

NIC-10 Girls

Belvidere North 64, Belvidere 58: Keri Dodson scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth period to lead North in a close win.